In Clio Manage, a matter is the file that holds a single legal case. Every piece of casework attaches to a matter, from time entries and documents to tasks and bills, so the full history of a case stays in one place. The Matters page lists every matter at your firm, and each matter opens onto its own dashboard and subtabs for the work attached to it.
Tip: Before adding matters, set up your matter numbering scheme. The numbering scheme defines how matter numbers and descriptions appear.
Understand matter statuses
Every matter in Clio Manage carries one of three statuses. The status determines which quick filter the matter appears under on the Matters page.
- Open
An active case that your firm is currently working on.
- Pending
A case your firm is still considering, or a case you are preparing to close.
- Closed
A fully resolved case.
View matters by status
The Matters page lists every matter your permissions allow, grouped by status.
Note: Global Search opens a recent or specific matter without going through the Matters page.
- Go to Matters.
- Select the All, Open, Pending, or Closed quick filter.
To narrow the list further, adjust columns, apply filters, expand rows for full matter descriptions, or export the results. Those controls are covered in Filter and Export Matters. [Link pending: article 15 needs a new URL]
Navigate matter subtabs
Opening a single matter gives you every piece of matter-specific data in one place, organized into subtabs.
- Go to Matters.
- Find your matter and click the matter name.
The subtabs available on a matter depend on your firm's subscription and on your role. An administrator who limits billing permissions, or a firm without eFiling, changes which subtabs a user can open. Learn more about roles and permissions in Clio Manage.
- Dashboard
An overview of the matter, including financials such as work in progress, outstanding balance, and matter trust funds. It also holds a Details section carrying the matter's core fields, including status, the open, pending, closed, and limitations dates, practice area, matter stage, and the responsible and originating attorney, plus contacts for clients and related contacts, custom fields, and conflict checks. Depending on your subscription, the dashboard also holds eFiling, Recent Vincent conversations, and AI Actions. Administrators can also customize which sections appear. [Link pending: repoint to article 9, Navigate the Matter Dashboard]
- Clio Work
For firms with Clio Work, this subtab provides direct access to Vincent AI, Clio Library, and Clio Docket. Clio Work drafts proactive next steps specific to the matter in advance, ready for review on the matter dashboard. Firms with Clio Draft can also reach Clio Draft from here. This subtab opens Clio Work outside the matter.
- Custom Fields
Holds matter custom fields, where you add fields and update field data. Learn more about custom fields in Clio Manage.
- Activities
Holds the time entries and expenses recorded against the matter. Learn more about activities.
- Calendar
Holds calendar events for the matter, defaulting to upcoming events, with options for past and all events. You can create events, manage visible columns, and search and filter the event table. Learn more about calendars.
- Communications
Holds communications for the matter, including phone logs, email logs, text messages, internal firm messages, and messages shared with clients through the client portal. Learn more about communications.
- Notes
Holds notes for the matter. Learn more about managing notes in Clio.
- Documents
Holds documents for the matter, including documents held in third-party drives such as Google Drive. Learn more about documents.
- eFiling
For firms with Clio File, this subtab holds documents eFiled and eServed to local courts for the matter, and tracks every submission. Learn more about eFiling.
- Tasks
Holds tasks for the matter. Learn more about tasks.
- Bills
Holds bills for the matter. Learn more about billing.
- Transactions
Holds transactions for the matter, including payments, transferred funds, and trust request transactions. Learn more about payments and trust requests.
- Clio for Co-Counsel
Holds resources shared with co-counsel on the matter. Learn more about Clio for Co-Counsel.
- Medical Records
For firms with the Personal Injury add-on, this subtab holds medical provider cards, medical records, and medical bills for the matter. Learn more about medical records.
- Damages
For firms with the Personal Injury add-on, this subtab holds the special and general damages recorded for the matter. Learn more about damages.
- Settlement
For firms with the Personal Injury add-on, this subtab holds recovery amounts, deductions, and settlement statements for the matter. Learn more about settlement.
Up next
- Add a matter: Create Matters. Set up a new matter, complete the matter form, and create placeholder matters for cases that are not yet confirmed.
- Track a case through its lifecycle: Change Matter Statuses. Move a matter between open, pending, and closed as the case progresses.